Wireless access point software system

ABSTRACT

A system and method is provided that provides a mobile communication device with the ability to quickly reestablish a communication session with another after the communication device is awaken from a sleep or idle mode. The mobile communication device is provided with a first power system for powering a central operating system and a second power system for powering a communication system. A mobile communication device establishes a communication session with another communication device by establishing a connection and establishing a communication session. During an idle period, the communication session in a stack will be stored in memory. The first power system and the central operating system will then enter a low power or sleep mode, while second power system and the communication system can maintain a communication connection with the other device. Upon reestablishing communications, the mobile communication device will wake up the first power supply and the central operating system. The central operating system will then copy the previous communication session from the memory into the stack and reestablish the communication session with the other device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Serial No. 60/220,260, filed Jul. 24, 2000 entitled WIRELESSACCESS POINT SOFTWARE SYSTEM.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention generally relates to communication systems,and in particular to a system and method for saving power in a mobilecommunication device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The use of cellular communication systems having mobile deviceswhich communicate with a hardwired network, such as a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), has become widespread. Retail storesand warehouse, for example, may user cellular communications systemswith mobile data terminals to track inventory and replenish stock. Thetransportation industry may use such systems at large outdoor storagefacilities to keep an accurate account of incoming and outgoingshipments. In manufacturing facilities, such systems are useful fortracking parts, completed products and defects. Such systems are alsoutilized for cellular telephone communications to allow users withwireless telephones to roam across large geographical regions whileretaining telephonic access. Paging networks also may utilize cellularcommunications systems which enable a user carrying a pocket sized pagerto be paged anywhere within a geographic region.

[0004] A typical cellular communications system includes a number offixed access points (also known as base stations) interconnected by acable medium often referred to as a system backbone. Also included inmany cellular communications systems are intermediate access pointswhich are not directly connected to the system backbone but other wiseperform many of the same functions as the fixed access points.Intermediate access points, often referred to as wireless access pointsor base stations, increase the area within which access points connectedto the system backbone can communicate with mobile devices.

[0005] Associated with each access point is a geographic cell. The cellis a geographic area in which an access point has sufficient signalstrength to transmit data and receive data from a mobile device such asa data terminal or telephone with an acceptable error rate. Typically,access points will be positioned along the backbones such that thecombined cell area coverage from each access point provides fullcoverage of a building or site.

[0006] Mobile devices such as telephones, pagers, personal digitalassistants (PDA's), data terminals etc. are designed to be carriedthroughout the system from cell to cell. Each mobile device is capableof communicating with the system backbone via wireless communicationbetween the mobile device and an access point to which the mobile deviceis registered. As the mobile device roams from one cell to another, themobile device will typically deregister with the access point of theprevious cell and register with the access point associated with the newcell. In certain situations, the mobile device will become idle and themobile device will enter a sleep or idle mode to conserve power. Theproblem is that when the mobile device is awaken by a communication fromanother device, it can take several minutes to reestablish a connectionand a communication session between the devices. Reestablishing thiscommunication session requires utilization of several minutes of batterypower each time the main processor is awaken.

[0007] Accordingly, there is an unmet need in the art for a system andmethod that allows a mobile communication device to quickly reestablisha communication session, while still providing a mechanism forconserving power during idle mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention relates to a system and method thatprovides a mobile communication device with the ability to quicklyreestablish a communication session with another device, such as anaccess point or the like, after the communication device is awaken froma sleep or idle mode. The mobile communication device is provided with afirst power system for powering a central processing system and a secondpower system for powering a radio device (e.g., a PCMCIA radio card). Amobile communication device establishes a communication session withanother communication device by establishing a connection via the radiodevice and establishing a communication session in a stack of a centralprocessing system. During an idle period, the communication session inthe stack is stored in memory. The first power system and the centralprocessing system will then enter a low power or sleep mode, whilesecond power system and the radio device maintain a communicationconnection with the other device. Upon receiving a communicationsdirected to the mobile communication device, the first power supply andthe central processing system will wake up. The central processingsystem will then copy the previous communication session from the memoryinto the stack and reestablish the communication session with the otherdevice. This eliminates the time necessary for reestablishing a newconnection by the radio device to the other device and reestablishing anew communication session by the central processing system with theother device.

[0009] In one aspect of the invention, the device has three differentmodes of operation which are normal mode, enhanced mode and hot mode. Acentral operating system resides and runs on the central processingsystem. In normal mode, the system is powered up and the operatingsystem loads the radio device driver. The radio device driver loads theconfiguration and configures all radio device slots. A communicationsession between another device can then be initiated. In a suspendstate, the main processor enters a sleep mode and the communicationsession is terminated. If the device receives a communication for themain processor, the device enters a hot mode waking up the mainprocessor which reloads the radio driver and reloads the configurationsettings. In enhanced mode, the system is powered up and the operatingsystem loads the radio device driver. The radio device driver loads theconfiguration and configures all radio device slots. A communicationsession between another device can then be initiated. In a suspendstate, the main processor loads the communication session from the stackinto memory and loads the configuration settings into the memory. Themain processor then enters a sleep mode, while the radio devicecontinues keeping the communication session or link open. If the devicereceives a communication for the main processor, the device enters a hotmode waking up the main processor which retrieves the communicationsession and configuration information from the memory. The communicationsession then continues uninterrupted. The device mode may be userconfigurable between the normal mode and the enhanced mode, for example,by providing an input selection component on an input panel or the like.

[0010] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, theinvention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however,of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of theinvention may be employed. Other advantages and novel features of theinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a network communication system inaccordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematic diagram of a mobilecommunication device in accordance with the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a block schematic diagram of components residing in amobile communication device in accordance with the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a block schematic diagram of components residing in acentral processing system in accordance with the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one particular methodologyfor reestablishing a communication session in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a block schematic diagram of communications betweensoftware components during normal mode in accordance with the presentinvention; FIG. 7 is a block schematic diagram of communications betweensoftware components during enhancement mode in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating one particular methodologyof the device operating in normal mode in accordance with the presentinvention; and

[0018]FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating one particular methodologyof the device operating in enhanced mode in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention will now be described with reference to thedrawings. The present invention will be described with reference to asystem and method for saving power in a mobile communication devicewithout modification of a stack storing the communication session. Itshould be understood that the description of these aspects of theinvention are merely illustrative and that they should not be taken in alimiting sense.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 1, a cellular communication system 50illustrating an environment of the present invention is shown. Thecellular communication system 50 includes a local area network (LAN) 52.The LAN or network backbone 52 may be a hardwired data communicationpath made of twisted pair cable, shielded coaxial cable or fiber opticcable, for example, or may be wireless or partially wireless in nature.Coupled to the LAN 52 are a stationary communication unit 53 and severalaccess points 54. Only one access point 54 _(a) is shown hardwired tothe network backbone 52, however, it is understood that more than onehardwired access points 54 _(a) may be physically connected to thenetwork backbone 52. The access points 54 may be hardwired to thenetwork 52 such as access point 54 _(a) or may be wirelessly coupled tothe backbone 52 such as access point 54 _(b). Each access point servesas an entrance point through which wireless communications may occurwith the network backbone 52. The wireless access point 54 _(b) may beemployed to expand the effective communication range of the cellularcommunication system 50. As is conventional, each wireless access point54 _(b) associates itself, typically by registration, with anotheraccess point or a host computer 60 coupled to the network backbone 52,whether hardwired or wireless, such that a link is formed between itselfand other devices situated on the network backbone 52.

[0021] Each access point 54 is capable of wirelessly communicating withother devices in the communication system 50 via respective antennascommonly denoted by reference numeral 62. The antenna 62 for anyparticular device may be of any type suitable for use in a networkcellular communication system, such as an omni-directional antenna, ayagi-type antenna, etc. A geographic cell (not shown) associated witheach access point 54 defines a region of coverage in which successfulwireless communication may occur. Depending on the type of antenna 62selected and output power of the respective access point, the geographiccell may take one of several different forms and sizes. For example, theantenna 62 could be an omni-directional antenna if a generally sphericalcell area of coverage is desired. A directed yagi-type antenna could beused as the antenna 62 for a more directed elliptical cell area ofcoverage.

[0022] The cellular communication system 50 also includes one or moremobile communication units 66. The mobile communication units 66 eachinclude an antenna 67 for wirelessly communicating with other devices.Each mobile communication unit 66 communicates with devices on thenetwork back 52 via a selected access point 54 and/or with other mobilecommunication units, and/or directly with the host computer 60 if withincell range of the host computer 60. Upon roaming from one cell toanother, the mobile communication unit 66 is configured to associateitself with a new access point 54 or directly with the host computer 60if within range. A mobile communicate unit 66 registers with aparticular access point which provides the particular mobilecommunications unit with wireless access to the network backbone 52.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic representation of a mobilecommunication device is shown according to one particular aspect of thepresent invention, wherein a processor 87 is responsible for controllingthe general operation of a hand held portable device 70. The processor87 is programmed to control and operate the various components withinthe hand held portable device 70 in order to carry out the variousfunctions described herein. The processor or CPU 87 can be any of aplurality of processors, such as the p24T, Pentium 50/75, Pentium 60/90,and Pentium 66/100, Pentium PRO and Pentium 2, and other similar andcompatible processors or micro controllers. A processor such as Intel's8 bit microcontrollers, the 8031, 8051 or 8052 can be utilized. Themanner in which the processor 87 can be programmed to carry out thefunctions relating to the present invention will be readily apparent tothose having ordinary skill in the art based on the description providedherein.

[0024] A memory 85 tied to the processor 87 is also included in the handheld portable device 70 and serves to store program code executed by theprocessor 87 for carrying out operating functions of the hand heldportable device 70 as described herein. The memory 85 also serves as astorage medium for temporarily storing information such as communicationsession data from a stack residing in one of the processor 87 or thememory 85 and/or configuration setting information. The memory 85 isadapted to store a complete set of the information to be displayed.According to a preferred aspect, the memory 85 has sufficient capacityto store multiple sets of information, and the processor 87 couldinclude a program for alternating or cycling between various sets ofdisplay information. This feature enables a display 72 to show a varietyof effects conducive for quickly conveying product and customerinformation to a user.

[0025] The display 72 is coupled to the processor 87 via a displaydriver system 73. The display 72 is preferably a touch screen displayand provides display inputs 75 to the processor 87 via an A/D converter78. The display 72 functions to display data or other informationrelating to ordinary operation of the hand held portable device 70.Additionally, the display 72 may display a variety of functions thatcontrol the execution of the hand held portable device 70. The display72 is capable of displaying both alphanumeric and graphical characters.

[0026] The hand held portable device 70 further includes an operatorinput device 76 in the form of a key pad or the like which enables auser to enter data, information, function commands, etc. For example,the user may select between operation of the hand held portable device70 in a normal mode or in an enhanced mode. Furthermore, a user mayinput information relating to product information and/or customerinformation via a keypad for subsequent transmission to an access pointthrough an antenna 77. In addition, the input device 76 may include upand down cursor keys for controlling a cursor which may be shown on thedisplay 72. The input device 76 can also include a print key forsubsequent printing of information through a printer 82.

[0027] Power is provided to the processor 87 and other componentsforming the hand held portable device 70 by a battery power module 88.The hand held portable device 70 is protected by battery power failureby a battery backup power module 89. Typically, the battery backupmodule 89 is a much smaller battery than the battery module 88 andinvoked only during swapping of the battery module 88 or a batterymodule failure. Preferably, the hand held portable device 70 will entera minimum current draw or sleep mode upon detection of the battery powermodule failure. Furthermore, the processor 87 and the battery powermodule are operable to enter a minimum current draw or sleep mode ifcommunications have not been directed to the hand held portable device70 for a predetermined period of time, which may be user configurable(e.g., 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes).

[0028] The hand held portable device 70 includes a communication system92 which coupled to the processor 87. The communication system 92includes communication power 93 separate from the main power 88. Thehand held portable device also includes an RF section 91 connected tothe communication system 92 for establishing a communication connectionwith other devices. The RF section 91 includes an RF receiver whichreceives RF transmissions via the antenna 77 and demodulates the signalto obtain digital information modulated therein. The RF section 91 alsoincludes an RF transmitter for transmitting information, for example, inresponse to an operator input at the operator input device 76 or thecompletion of a transaction.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 3 illustrating a schematic block diagram of amobile communication device 120 according to the present invention. Themobile communication device 120 comprises a first power system 125operable to provide power to a central processing system 130 and asecond power system 135 operable to provide power to a radio device 140(e.g., a PCMCIA radio card) coupled to the central processing system130. The radio device 140 is coupled to an antenna 145 for transmittingand receiving radio communications during a communication session withan access point or the like. Providing separate power systems 125 and135 allows for maintaining power to the radio device 140 during an idleperiod to maintain a communication connection or link with an accesspoint or the like, while the central processing system 130 enters a reststate or a sleep mode. A communication from the access point or the likedirected to the mobile communication device 120 causes the radio device140 to wake up the first power supply 125 and the central operatingsystem 130. The first power supply 125 and the central operating system130 then use information stored about the current session to reestablishthe communication session.

[0030]FIG. 4 illustrates a block schematic diagram of the centralprocessing system 130. The central processing system 130 has a processor150 coupled to a communication session stack 155 and a memory 160. Aftera predetermined period of time without any communications, the processor150 will copy the contents of the communication session stack 155 intothe memory 160 and the central operating system 130 will enter a lowpower or sleep mode. Once communications is again commenced, the centralprocessing system 130 will awaken and the processor 150 will copy thecommunication session stored in the memory 160 back into thecommunication session stack 155. The communication session can thencontinue as before without the need to reestablish a new connection bythe radio device 140 and without the need to reestablish a communicationsession by the central processing system 130.

[0031]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one particular methodologyfor reestablishing a communication session after a portion of a mobilecommunication device enters a low power or sleep mode according to thepresent invention. In step 200, a mobile communication deviceestablishes a communication connection and session with an access pointor the like. In step 210, the mobile communication device determines ifthe system has been idle for a predefined period of time. If the systemhas not been idle for a predefined period of time (NO), the mobilecommunication device repeats step 210. If the system has been idle for apredefined period of time (YES), the mobile communication device copiesthe communication session stack into memory in step 220. In step 230,the central processor system enters a low power mode, while the radiodevice remains in normal mode and maintains the communication link. Instep 240, the mobile communication device determines if there has beenany communication from the access point directed to the communicationdevice. If there has not been any communication from the access pointdirected to the communication device in step 240 (NO), the centralprocessing system remains in the low power mode and the communicationdevice repeats step 240. If there has been communication from the accesspoint in step 240 (YES), the radio device wakes up the centralprocessing system in step 250. The central processing system then copiesthe communications session from the memory back into the stack andcontinues the previous communication session in step 260.

[0032]FIG. 6 illustrates the communications occurring between devicecomponents associated with the hand held portable device operating innormal mode. In normal mode, the system is powered up and an operatingsystem 300 loads a radio device driver 304. The radio device driver 304loads a configuration setting 308 and configures a radio device 310based on the configuration setting 308. The configuration settingincludes the setting of the operating mode which is normal or enhanced.The setting of the mode may be user configurable by selecting the modefrom an input device residing on the hand held portable device. Acommunication session between another device can then be initiated. In asuspend state, the operating system 300 initiates a suspend event 302,which is received by the radio driver 304. The main processor enters asleep mode and the communication session is terminated. If the devicereceives a communication for the main processor, the device enters a hotmode waking up the main processor and causing the operating system 300to initiate a resume event 302. On resume, the radio driver 304initiates a deinsertion event 306 followed by an insertion event 306.The series of events causes the previous communication session to belost. The operating system 300 then reloads the radio driver 304, whichreloads the configuration settings 308. A new communication session thenneeds to be established to continue communications between the devices.

[0033]FIG. 7 illustrates the communications occurring between componentsassociated with the device in enhanced mode. In enhanced mode, thesystem is powered up and the operating system 300 loads the radio devicedriver 304. The radio device driver 304 loads the configuration setting308 and configures the radio device 310 based on the configurationsetting 308. A communication session between another device can then beinitiated. In a suspend state, the operating system 300 initiates asuspend event 302, which is caught by an application program interface(API) wrapper 312 prior to reaching the radio driver 304. The radiodriver 304 loads the communication session information and theconfiguration settings into a memory 314. Alternatively, the API wrapper312 may be operable to load the communication session information andthe configuration settings into a memory 312. The main processor entersa sleep mode and the communication session continues through the radiodevice 310. If the device receives a communication for the mainprocessor, the device enters a hot mode waking up the main processor andcausing the operating system 300 to initiate a resume event 302. Theresume event is caught by the API wrapper 312 which loads, or tells theradio driver 304 to load, the communications session information backinto the stack and overrides the configuration settings 308 with theconfiguration settings stored into the memory 314. Therefore, the radiodriver 304 does not initiate a deinsertion event followed by aninsertion event and the previous communication session continues without the need to reestablish a communications link.

[0034] For example, if the operating system 300 is Microsoft® Windows®CE Operating System and the radio 310 is a PCMCIA radio card pluggedinto a backplane of the hand held portable device, then the PCMCIAdriver will operate as planned in normal mode. On Resume, the PCMCIAdriver with give a deinsertion event to all cards in all PCMCIA slots.Then an insertion event is generated for each slot with a card present.The series of events causes the TCP/IP stack in Windows® CE to lose anyinformation that tied open WinSock socket to a given Network DeviceInterface Specification (NDIS) driver. Therefore, these sockets cannotcommunicate anymore. The enhanced mode defines that the PCMCIA driverwill not create the deinsertion/insertion events on a resume of thedevice. Therefore, the device driver will assume the responsibility torecover on resume. Changes to the PCMCIA card and socket services orWindows® CE, the Model Device Driver (MDD) and Platform Dependent Driver(PDD) are required to get the modes to work. A NDIS driver can supportthis mode by implementing a stream driver wrapper around the NDISdriver, so it can catch the resume events from the system. Once a resumeevent has been detected, the API Wrapper can call the card/socketservices to define the card into the proper mode for the NetworkInterface Card (NIC) card supported. Once this has happened, the APIwrapper can call the initialization routines in the NDIS drivers thatwill reinitialize the card and override the configuration with the savedconfiguration settings.

[0035]FIG. 8 illustrates one particular methodology for the stepsassociated with the operation of the hand held portable device whenoperating in the normal mode. At step 400, the central processing systemis powered up and the operating system associated with the device isloaded into memory and begins running. The radio device driver is thenloaded by the operating system at step 410. At step 420, the radiodevice driver loads the configuration settings and configures all radiodevices present in the hand held portable device. At step 430, theoperating system determines if that central processing system has beenidle for a predetermined period of time (e.g., has not receivedcommunications for the central processing system). If the system is notidle for a predetermined period of time (NO), the method continuesrepeating step 430. If the system is idle for a predetermined period oftime (YES), the method advances to step 440 and the central processingsystem enters a sleep mode. The central processing system continuesmonitoring the radio device for communications directed to the centralprocessing system. If a communication is not received for the centralprocessing system(NO), the central processing system continuesmonitoring the radio device for communications directed to the centralprocessing system. If a communication is received for the centralprocessing system (YES), the method advances to step 460. At step 460,the system enters a hot mode and wakes up the main processor. At step470, the operating system reloads the radio driver and the radio driverreloads the configuration settings which configures the slots of allradio devices residing in the hand held portable device. At step 480, anew communication session is initiated.

[0036]FIG. 9 illustrates one particular methodology for the stepsassociated with the device when operating in the enhanced mode. At step500, the central processing system is powered up and the operatingsystem associated with the device is loaded into memory and beginsrunning. The radio device driver is then loaded by the operating systemat step 510. At step 520, the radio device driver loads theconfiguration settings and configures all radio devices present in thehand held portable device. At step 530, the operating system determinesif that central processing system has been idle for a predeterminedperiod of time (e.g., has not received communications for the centralprocessing system). If the system is not idle for a predetermined periodof time (NO), the method continues repeating step 530. If the system isidle for a predetermined period of time (YES), the method advances tostep 540. At step 540, the configuration settings are stored and thecentral processing system enters a sleep mode. The central processingsystem continues monitoring the radio device for communications directedto the central processing system. If a communication is not received forthe central processor (NO), the central processing system continuesmonitoring the radio device for communications directed to the centralprocessing system. If a communication is received for the centralprocessing system (YES), the method advances to step 560. At step 560,the system enters a hot mode and wakes up the main processor. At step570, the operating system reloads the radio driver and the radio driveroverrides the configuration settings with the stored configurationsettings. At step 580, the device continues with the currentcommunication system.

[0037] What has been described above are preferred aspects of thepresent invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing the present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize that many further combinations and permutations of thepresent invention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile communication device, comprising: acentral processing system coupled to a first power system; and a radiodevice coupled to a second power system and the central operatingsystem, the mobile communication device having an enhanced mode whereinduring a communication session and after an idle period, the first powersystem and the central processing system are operable to enter a sleepmode, while the second power system and the radio device continue normaloperation for maintaining a communication connection with anothercommunication device.
 2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, thecentral processing system comprising a processor, a communicationsession stack and a memory wherein when in the enhanced mode, theprocessor copies the contents of the communication session stack intothe memory prior to entering the sleep mode.
 3. The mobile communicationdevice of claim 2, wherein a communication from another device directedto the mobile communication device while the central processing systemis in a sleep mode causes a wake up signal to be provided to the centralprocessing system wherein when in the enhanced mode, the centralprocessing copies the communication session from the memory to the stackand reestablishes the communication session.
 4. The mobile communicationdevice of claim 2, the processor prior to entering the sleep mode alsocopies the contents of a configuration setting into the memory when inthe enhanced mode.
 5. The mobile communication device of claim 4,wherein a communication from another device directed to the mobilecommunication device, while the central processing system is in a sleepmode causes a wake up signal to be provided to the central processingsystem wherein when in the enhanced mode, the central processing systemcopies the configuration setting from the memory overriding a defaultconfiguration setting.
 6. The mobile communication device of claim 1,further comprising an operating system running on the central processingsystem, the operating system initiating a suspend event prior to thecentral processing system entering the sleep mode wherein an applicationprogram interface wrapper catches the suspend event directed to a radiodevice driver, such that the radio device driver continues normalcommunications to continue a communication session during the sleepmode.
 7. The mobile communication device of claim 6, wherein acommunication from another device directed to the mobile communicationdevice, while the central processing system is in a sleep mode causes awake up signal to be provided to the central processing system whereinthe operating system running on the central processing system initiatesa resume event that, when in the enhanced mode, the application programinterface wrapper catches and causes a default configuration setting tobe overridden by a stored configuration setting.
 8. The mobilecommunication device of claim 1, further comprising an input deviceoperable to allow a user to select between a normal mode and theenhanced mode.
 9. The mobile communication device of claim 1, the radiodevice being at least one PCMCIA card.
 10. A method for reestablishingcommunications between a mobile communication device and anothercommunication device, comprising: providing a mobile communicationdevice with central processing system with a first power supply systemand a communication system with a second power supply system;establishing a communication session between the communication deviceand another device; determining if an idle period has occurred where nocommunications have been directed to the mobile communication device;copying the communication session from a stack to a memory in thecentral processing system if an idle period has occurred; entering asleep mode for the first power supply system and the central processingsystem, while maintaining the second power supply and the communicationsystem in normal operating conditions for maintaining a communicationconnection with the other device; transmitting a wake up signal to thecentral processing system upon receiving a communication from the otherdevice directed to the mobile communication device causing the centralprocessing system to begin normal operations; and copying thecommunication session from the memory back to the stack andreestablishing the communication session.
 11. The method of claim 10,further comprising copying the contents of the configuration settingsinto the memory prior to the step of entering a sleep mode.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising copying the configurationsettings from the memory overriding a default configuration settingafter the step of transmitting a wake up signal to the centralprocessing system.
 13. The method of claim 11, the communication systembeing a PCMCIA card.
 14. The method claim 11, further comprisingproviding an operating system running on the central processing system,the operating system being operable to initiate a suspend event prior tothe step of entering the sleep mode and a resume event after the step oftransmitting a wake up signal.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising a step of providing an application program interface wrapperthat catches the suspend event and resume event directed to a radiodevice driver when the device is in a first mode and does not catch thesuspend event and resume event to the radio device driver in a secondmode.
 16. A mobile communication device, comprising: a centralprocessing system; and a radio device coupled the central processingsystem, the mobile communication device having an enhanced mode and anormal mode wherein after an idle period the central processing systemis operable to enter a sleep mode while the radio device continuesoperation for maintaining a communication connection with anothercommunication device in the enhanced mode and both the centralprocessing system and the radio device are operable to enter a sleepmode in the normal mode.
 17. The mobile communication device of claim16, the central processing system being operable in the enhanced mode tocopy the contents of the communication session stack into a memory priorto entering a sleep mode.
 18. The mobile communication device of claim17, the central processing system being operable in the enhanced mode toawake when a communication directed to the communication device isreceived, copy the communication session from the memory to the stackand reestablish the communication session with the other device.
 19. Themobile communication device of claim 16, the central processing systembeing operable in the enhanced mode to copy the current configurationsettings into a memory prior to entering the sleep mode.
 20. The mobilecommunication device of claim 17, the central processing system beingoperable in the enhanced mode to awake when a communication directed tothe communication device is received, copy the configuration settingsover a default configurations setting and reestablish the communicationsession with the other device.